Bill · S. 47· Senate(119-S-47)
Defense of Conscience in Health Care Act
- Introduced
- 1/9/2025
- Last activity
- 1/9/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Sponsored by
- Josh Hawley
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Defense of Conscience in Health Care Act," directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue a new final rule. This rule must be identical or materially equivalent to a previous rule from July 22, 2019, regarding the protection of statutory conscience rights in health care. The mandate includes specifying that this new rule supersedes any contrary rules currently in existence. The Secretary is required to complete this action within six months of the Act's enactment.
Yes
Does this give the federal government more power?+4
The bill mandates that the Secretary of Health and Human Services issue a specific final rule that supersedes contrary existing rules.
The opposite
Does this make abortion easier to get?-5
The bill restores 2019 regulations that expanded healthcare provider conscience protections, which can restrict access to services like abortion.
Would women be better off under this?-4
The restoration of specific conscience protections may impact the accessibility of reproductive healthcare services for women.
Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated?-3
By strengthening conscience protections for providers, the bill may limit the provision of reproductive health services often central to gender equality advocacy.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Restoration of Previous Regulations: The bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue a rule identical or materially equivalent to the one in effect on July 22, 2019 (Section 2(a)(1)). This provides a specific standard for protecting statutory conscience rights in health care.
-
Clarity and Supersession: The final rule will explicitly state that it supersedes any contrary rule existing at the time of issuance (Section 2(a)(2)). This could provide clear direction regarding which regulations are in effect.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Mandated Regulatory Changes: The Secretary of Health and Human Services must issue a final rule within 6 months of enactment (Section 2(a)). This requires the implementation of specific regulations regarding federal conscience and anti-discrimination laws.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Improves Abortion Access-5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Women-4
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+4
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Gender Equality-3
- 1/9/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.